These New Via Ferrata Routes Are the Most Challenging in North America — and They’re in the 'Little Switzerland of America’

"Scaling a series of cliffs in Ouray, Colorado, the Gold Mountain Via Ferrata is a fixed climbing route made up of metal rungs drilled into rock with an adjacent steel cable so harnessed climbers stay clipped in; the whole experience is suitable for beginners and first-timers who are comfortable with heights and have some strength. Opened in 2022, the original route includes a narrow 300-foot-long suspension bridge that hangs in the air, and two new optional segments (opening in June) add harder pitches: the first is about 200 feet of overhanging climbing mixed with rock-climbing movement, and the second is a 300-foot-long segment that leads to an overhanging rock roof you climb monkey-bar–style. Those new pitches are rated 5+ on the Fletcher/Smith scale (the route as a whole varies between 3 and 5), and have been described as North America’s most challenging via ferrata segments — even “could be the hardest in the world,” according to via ferrata pioneer Chris Holland — while remaining optional and returning climbers to the original route; all journeys up Gold Mountain must be done with a local guide from Basecamp Ouray, and the advertised starting rate covers safety gear, shuttle service, and a professional guide." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines